Dishwashing machines



Feb. 25,1958 J. H. BEAR- v 2,824,648

DISHWASHING MACHINES Original Filed May 12. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.

James 17 fiear y Jw HTTORNEY Feb. 25, 1958 J. H; BEAR 2,324,648

DISHWASHING MACHINES Original Filed May 12, 1951 3 Shets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Jar/Ms 1T flar Feb. 25, 1958 Original Filed May 12 1951 J. H. BEAR DISHWASHING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

,qTTORNEY United States PatentOfic DISHWASHING MACHINES James H. Bear, New York, N. Y.

Continuation of abandoned application Serial No. 226,027, May 12, 1951. This application August 1, 1955, Serial No. 525,444

2 Claims. Cl. 210-238) The present invention relates to dishwashing machines and, more particularly, relates to improvements in dishwashing machines of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent Number 1,550,439, dated August 18, 1925.

The dishwashing machine disclosed in the aforementioned patent essentially comprises a tank for receiving the dishes to be washed having a drainage outlet in the bottom thereof, a spray pipe in the tank for directing wash and rinse water on the dishes, a wash water circulating system including a pump having an inlet connected with the drainage outlet and an outlet connected with the spray pipe inlet, a rinse water tank, a waste pipe outlet, and valving for controlling the flow of 'wash waterto recirculate the same and to discharge .the same into the waste pipe outlet, when desired, and for controlling the flow of water from the rinse water tank through the spray pipe. r

While dishwashing machines of this type are considered to be of excellent design and have met with considerable commercial success, it has been found that certain features thereof may be improved upon.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dishwashing machine that effects highly efficient washing of the dishes and the like.

Another object is to provide a spray pipe which is arranged and actuated in a manner to more efficiently cause waste to be directed downwardly towards the drain: age outlet.

Another object is to provide an improved waste reservoir cooperating with the wash, water circulating system to prevent waste from entering the intake of the pump.

Another object is to provide such a reservoir which is adapted to handle a large quantity of waste'without danger of contaminating the recirculated wash water.

Another object is to provide such a reservoir which is practically self cleaning in that waste is flushed therefrom when the wash water is directed into the waste pipe.

A further object is to provide a readily removable and replaceable waste reservoir of the foregoing character.

A still further object is to provide a drainage outlet construction which cooperates with the waste reservoir.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the. invention, certain of the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a dishwashing machine of the herein described character wherein the spray pipe has a plurality of longitudinal spaced discharge apertures at opposite sides thereof and the spray pipe is oscillated. Preferably, one or more rows of aligned apertures are provided at only two opposite sides of the spray pipe and the spray pipe is turned back and forth at least aboutoue half of one revolution, the apertures of opposite rows being spaced in staggering relation and being positioned in the spray pipe in relation to the oscillating mechanism, so that a spray of water is directed in a substantially horizontal direction at the moment the direction in which the pipe is turned is reversed.

Other of the foregoing objects are more specifically accomplished by providing a drainage outlet including a chamber below the bottom of the wash tank having an outlet adapted for connection to the wash water circulating system; and by providing a readily removable and replaceable waste reservoir comprising a cover portion for admitting waste from the wash tank and forming a closure for the upper end of the chamber, screen means separating the waste pipe outlet and the wash water recirculating outlet for permitting wash water to pass therethrough and for preventing waste from being recirculated with the wash water, and outlet means cooperating with the waste pipe outlet of the chamber. Preferably the reservoir has a sloping screen-like wall which directs the waste towards the outlet means thereof. Y A preferred'embodiment of the invention has been chosen for the purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, ,whereinz Fig. l is a side elevational view of a dishwashing machine embodying the present invention, certain sections being broken away to illustrate details thereof.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 -21 01iFig.11. x v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational'view .of

the improved spray'pipe.

Fig. 4 is a staggered sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is.a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 on Fig.1 illustrating the improved waste reservoir and chamber for receiving the same.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 on Fig. 5. I Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 5 thereof, there is shown a dishwashing machine comprising a main or wash tank 10 for receiving the dishes or other articles to be washed, which articles are placed in baskets or racks, as shown in the aforementioned patents but not shown herein; a drainage outlet at the bottom of the tank generally indicated by the reference numeral 11; a waste pipe 12 connected to the drainage outlet having a valve 14 therein; a spray pipe 15 (Fig. 1) extending horizontally across the tank and positioned substantially centrally therein having an inlet 16 at one end thereof; bearings 17 and 19 at opposite sides of the tank for rotatably mounting the spray pipe; a reserve tank 20 (Fig. 2) for storing rinse water;

and a wash water circulating system including a pipe 21 connecting the drainage outlet 11 to the inlet of a rotating pump 22, a three way valve 24 in the pipe 21 having an inlet connected to the outlet of the reserve tankby a pipe 25, a flexible pipe 26 interconnecting the outlet of the pump and the inlet 16 of the spray, pipe, and a motor 27 for driving the pump through a shaft 29. The pump has a shaft section 30 extending outwardly thereof on which a shaft section worm 31 is mounted. The worth 31 rotates a gear 32 of a mechanism for oscillating the spray pipe and a connecting rod '34 having Patented Feb. 25, 1958 with the reserve tank. Thus, after the articles to be washed have been placed into the main tank and wash water has been introduced into the tank 10, the motor is then started to drive the pump to cause wash water to be circulated from the drainage outlet to the spray pipe which reintroduces the wash water into the main tank, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. The wash water is so circulated until a sufficient time has elapsed in which the articles should be washed clean. At the end of the wash period, the waste pipe valve is opened to discharge the wash water from the machine and the three way valve is positioned to close its inlet in connection with the drainage outlet and to open its outlet in connection with the reserve tank, whereby the rinse water is introduced into the main tank to rinse the articles therein and is then discharged through the waste pipe.

In order to accomplish the foregoing valving operations automatically a time clock controlled solenoid. 35 is provided having a plunger 36 for actuating mechanism to position the valves. As shown in Fig. 5, the three way valve 24 has a bell crank 37 mounted on its valve member turning shaft 39. The bell crank has arms 40 and 41, the arm 40 being connected by a link 42 to the plunger 36 and the arm 41 being connected by a rod 44 to the waste pipe valve member operating mechanism 45, whereby actuation of the solenoid causes its plunger to effect the desired positioning of both the valves 14 and 24.

The dishwashing machine, as just described, is generally disclosed in the aforementioned patent, but such description appears to be necessary to fully appreciate. the

novel features of the present invention, as about to be described.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the spray pipe has three closely adjacent rows of longitudinally spaced apertures 50 at one side thereof and has three similar rows of apertures 51 at the opposite side thereof. The rows at the respective sides are diametrically opposed but the apertures 50. and 51 are arranged in staggered relation to each other.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention the rows of apertures are positioned in relation to the oscillating mechanism, so that they face in a generally horizontal direction at the moment the direction in which the spray pipe is being turned is about to be reversed.

Thus, when the spray pipe is at rest or is in the portion of the oscillating cycle where it moves the slowest, the water is directed laterally towards the side walls of the tank and through the articles to be washed. Since the spray pipe is in such a position for the longest period of the oscillating cycle, a greater volume of wash or rinse water will be directed through this zone than through the zone when the spray pipe is moving the fastest and the water is sprayed in a more generally vertical direction. It will thus be appreciated that this arrangement provides for highly eflicient washing and rinsing of the dishes or other articles.

Another advantage of the foregoing arrangement is that in the oscillating cycle a spray is directed towards both sides of the tank from a generally horizontal direction through downwardly inclined directions to a direction towards the bottom of the tank. Thus, during a portion of the cycle the spray tends to wash down the sides of the tank, as well as the articles therein, and this results in quickly and efficiently removing waste from the dishes and directing the same to the drainage outlet where it is isolated from the circulated wash water. This feature, as will be observed, eliminates churning the waste in the wash tank by providing for effective removal of waste, as will be described hereinafter.

' A further advantage resulting from having the spray pipe at rest during the cycle with the apertures facing generally horizontallyand having the apertures in. stag gered relation is that a closer overall spray pattern is provided, that is, the spray flow apertures 50 will be directed through planes in between the planes through which the spray from the apertures 51 is directed. In this manner, the spray in each complete cycle covers the entire length of the tank and blind spots at which no spray is provided are eliminated.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown in detail the improved drainage outlet and waste reservoir in accordance with the invention. To accomplish the advantages by the provision of this construction, as already indicated herein and those which will become apparent from the ensuing description, the drainage outlet 11 includes a chamber 54 provided by a casing 55 centrally located in the bottom of the main tank 10. This casing is open at its upper end and has side walls 56 extending downwardly from the bottom of the tank and has a bottom 57. As shown in Fig. 6, one of the side walls has an opening 60 communicating with the pipe 21, which connects the drainage outlet to the pump 22. The bottom 57 of the casing has a sloping, section 61, and a tubular section 62 constituting an outlet connected with the waste pipe 12 is provided in a side wall of the casing adjacent the lower end of the sloping section 61. This tubular section is formed with an internal, annular groove 64 having an annular gasket 65 positioned therein for the purpose about to be made apparent.

In order to collect waste and prevent the same from being .entrained in the pump and recirculated through the water distribution system, a waste reservoir is positioned in the casingSS. This reservoir, as shown in Fig. 6, may comprise an apertured cover plate 71 forming a. closure for the open. end of the casing but adapted to permit waste topass therethrough and a body including an impervious sidewall 72 in rigid connection with the cover plate having a tubular section 74 extending outwardly thereof and into the tubular section 62 of the casing, and perforate or screen like side walls 75 including a bottom wall section 76 sloping downwardly from the cover plate towards the tubular section 74. The perforate side walls permit water to pass from the main tank to the pump inlet pipe 21 but will confine the waste within the reservoir.

Preferably, the waste reservoir 70 is removably mounted in the casing to permit cleaning thereof and, to facilitate removal and replacement thereof, the cover plate 71 is formed with an upwardly extending manually engageable element, such as a finger ring 77. In order to facilitate insertion of the tubular'section 74 through the gasket 65 and the formation of a liquid tight, seal between the tubular sections 62 and 74, the tubular section 74 has a tapered or somewhat conical exterior for wedgingthe same into the gasket.

While it is desirable to remove the reservoir after each use. of the machine to thoroughly scour the same, the sloping wall section 75 makes the reservoir practically self cleaning in the respect that a major portion of the waste will be deposited on this wall section and will be directed downwardly towards the outlet section 74. Thus,

' when the waste pipevalve 14 is opened and waste water and rinse water are'discharged from the wash tank, such water flowing across this sloping section will tendto flush the waste water into the waste pipe. Consequently, when the reservoir is. removed for cleaning, it will be found that essentially all the waste has been removed from the interior of the reservoir, thereby facilitating further cleaning thereof. I

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a highly eflicient dishwashing machine. ,By reason of the improved spray pipe arrangement and the improved wash tank drainage outlet including t he noyel wastecollecting reservoir, any waste which isjhtroduced. into the wash tank with the dishes or other articles to be washed is quickly and effectively removed from the dishes and the wash tank and is retained in the waste resewoir to prevent contamination of the recirculated wash water. This coaction between the spray pipe and the reservoir provides for better washing of the dishes and articles because, first, the recirculated wash water is relatively clean and thereby has a more efficient cleaning action; second, the dishes or other articles are quickly freed of waste whereby the wash water can act directly on the surfaces thereof to clean the same; and third, effective removal of waste from the recirculated wash water prevents clogging of the spray pipe apertures and consequent reduction in the efiiciency of the spray. These advantages are attained by novel, practical, and economical features of construction.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. a

What is claimed is:

l. A unitary waste reservoir adapted to be removably positioned in a chamber having an upper opening in the bottom of a wash tank of a dishwashing machine, said reservoir comprising a cover portion for the opening of said chamber having waste receiving apertures therein, and a receptacle portion attached to said cover portion having an imperforate, vertical wall and three perforated walls, the latter three walls for passage of water therethrough and for storage of waste particles therein, and having a tubular outlet section at the lower end thereof joined to said walls, one of said perforated walls sloping downwardly from said cover portion to said outlet section to form an inclined bottom for facilitating movement of said waste particles, the other two of said perforated walls being vertically disposed, said tubular outlet section being selectively closed so as to retain the waste particles in the reservoir during washing operation of the machine and being open at completion of said washing operation to discharge said waste particles therefrom.

2. A unitary waste reservoir adapted to be removably positioned in a chamber having an opening in the bottom of a wash tank of a dishwashing machine, said reservoir comprising an apertured cover plate for the opening of said chamber for passage of waste particles therethrough and having manually engageable means extending upwardly for facilitating removal and replacement of said reservoir in the chamber, and a trough-shaped receptacle at the underside of said cover plate and structurally integral therewith, said receptacle having a sloping, perforated wall extending from said cover plate at one side to the opposite side adjacent the bottom thereof, and having a tubular outlet section adjacent the lower end of said wall, said outlet section being selectively closed so as to retain the waste particles in the reservoir during washing operation of the machine and being open at completion of said washing operation to discharge said waste particles therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,525,756 McKenney Feb. 10, 1925 1,597,361 Hazard Aug. 24, 1926 1,638,549 Ohmart Aug. 9, 1927 1,715,100 Septant May 28, 1929 1,855,344 Elkington Apr. 26, 1932 

